Therapy that works for hay fever
Slowly I hear more and more foreign languages around me in the city: tourists are slowly flowing back into our country. And I don't blame them, because especially with this beautiful weather, a vacation in the Netherlands is really no punishment. As a surprise, I took the whole family away for a few days in beautiful Limburg to Pillows Château De Raay, right in the woods. Upon arrival, a glass of champagne and oysters were immediately ready for us, and for Otis, a huge portion of brownies (I've never seen Otis so surprised and happy). With a view over the forest and the beautiful pond, we were treated to a wonderful frog concert in the evening. The plan was to have a romantic dinner for two on the terrace in the evening (’baby monitor 4G app‘ is the best!), but Otis is now at an age where he realizes too much that we are out of the room... So it became a dinner with kids. Today we will enjoy a lovely walk through the woods, this afternoon a boat trip with a picnic basket from the hotel, and then our ’staycation‘ will be over tomorrow... If we plan a few of these kinds of trips this summer, I won't miss that summer vacation abroad for a second.
Every year it happens again: at the beginning of spring, I think: wow, this year the hay fever isn't so bad, and then the peak comes in June... Sniffling, coughing, watery eyes: you feel so miserable, but not really sick enough to stay in bed. I got the tip for Salt Room via Instagram: halotherapy with a purifying effect on your airways and skin. So even people with skin complaints benefit from the salt therapy. The room feels very serene, and you walk barefoot over coarse salt towards your ‘chill spot’ for the next hour. Then clean, filtered air with micro salt particles is blown into the room. The session is suitable even for babies from six months and kids. After two sessions, I really noticed a difference on the same day and the day after. I will definitely be coming back every week now that I have so much trouble with it.
Especially during the lockdown, I was out of food inspiration after about three weeks. So when I received this amazing Mooncake foodie bag last week, I immediately felt like locking myself up again to discover what dishes I could brew with these, for me completely unknown, ingredients. Each edition is about a different culinary influence in the Netherlands, and this bag was filled with Indian, Pakistani, and Surinamese-Hindu influences on the Netherlands. Locally sourced, including recipes to help you get started. I even got a few ‘inside’ tips for local restaurants where you can taste the most delicious dishes with these influences. I'm a fan! I promise to share the results with you once I've cooked.
Years ago, an idea crossed my mind: how cool would it be if you had shawls, hats, and cardigans knitted by elderly people in nursing homes and connected the buyer to them to combat loneliness? In the end, I didn't do anything with this idea, but now there are several companies that have developed a similar idea. A while ago, I discovered Maridruna on Insta, a beautiful knitwear brand where all clothing is handmade by local Serbian women who master the true ‘art of knitting’. And you can see that too. I immediately fell in love with this cardigan: there was even a tag on it stating which lady knitted my cardigan. Believe me: one look at the site and you're sold.
